Gang relay



N. H. SAUNDERS ETAL 2,315,020

GANG RELAY Marc zh 30, 1943.

Filed Jan. 15, 1941 271/222 0 jVarman/Yfiaunaers M'ZsfiJudsezz 32structures.

Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GANG RELAYApplication January 15, 1941, Serial No. 374,428

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a useful improvement in gang relays and moreparticularly to the type which are used in telephone systems forestablishing connections in conversational circuits between calling andcalled subscribers.

The object of this invention is to provide a relay of this type whichpermits ready adjustment, is cheap to manufacture, is compact, reliablein operation, which eliminates parts, and which may be economicallypositioned in space adjacent to other relays.

One of the features of this invention resides in the organization of therelay so that it may be nested with respect to other relays on aswitchboard so as to reduce the space required for line finder,selector, connector or other relays in automatic switchboards. Anotherfeature resides in the arrangement of the parts and of the springs sothat ready adjustment may be made. A further feature resides in thesimplified construction of the heel iron, and the adjusting screw sothat less critical limits may be applied in manufacture, resulting inconsequent economies, and. ultimately in simplified Other features andadvantages will appear from the description of the invention taken inconnection with the figures of the accompanying drawin In the drawingwherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the relay with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view with parts broken away as viewed onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the relay of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a partial section of a relay banknested together.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the relay is shown inits preferred form as comprising an operating magnet I0, having a coreI2 projecting at one end to form a pole piece and extending at the otherend into a threaded boss l4, provided with means 16 for securing theheel iron I8 to the operating magnet and for securing the relaystructure to a supporting framework 20 which may be arranged in either ahorizontal or vertical direction.

Spring contact elements are mounted on the relay in the form of stacks22 so as to provide a multiplicity of circuit connections under thecontrol of the one relay magnet. The free contact springs 24 restagainst metal strips 26 of somewhat ductile material which serve as astop.

These springs are adjacent to the lever contact springs '28 which arerelatively movable with respect to the free springs, and the entiregroup of spring contacts in the stack are insulatably mounted at 39 upona mounting plate 32, which latter is detachably secured through itscentral section to the heel iron I8 by means of suitable fastening means34. In the preferred arrangement, this connection is accomplished bycounter-sunk machine screws. The mounting plate is rigidly secured tothe heel iron thereby preserving the contact spring stacks in definitepositions at all times. Each stack is in turn fastened upon the mountingplate by two screws 345.

An operating lever 38 is arranged to extend across the width of thefront of the relay so as to provide an operating means for all of thespring contacts in the various stacks. An armature 40 effects theoperation of the actuating lever 38. The armature is preferably angularin section, having a portion 42 to which the operating lever may besecured by appropriate fastening means shown in the form of rivets M.The other leg 46 of the armature extends adjacent to the pole piece I2and is arranged in adjustable relation thereto by means of the adjustingscrew 48 which latter is of relatively large diameter and may have aright hand screw providing a means for close adjustment of the extent ofmovement of the operating lever. A look nut 50 secures the screw inadjusted position so as to preclude variations of adjustment when thedevice is in operation.

The armature and operating lever are pivotally supported upon the heeliron by means of the threaded studs 52. These studs are spaced laterallyon the front edge of the heel iron thereby retaining the operating leverand armature in aligned relation to the other parts of the relay at alltimes. Spring nuts 54 serve to hold the parts in the position asdescribed.

The stacks of spring contacts are positioned on the mounting plate ateither side of the center thereof, as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2thereby providing a space 56 in which the coil of operating magnet ofthe next adjacent relay may nest. This arrangement of relays is seen inFig. 5 providing a very compact relationship of the relays when mountedupon a switchboard panel.

In Fig. 5, a series of contact spring stacks 22 are positioned aboveeach operating lever 38, and an operating magnet I0 is positioned beloweach operating lever. The stacks are on each side of the magnet ID ofthe next higher relay. The operation of a lower magnet l0 eiiects themovemerit of the operating lever 38, above it, and in turn operates thespring stacks 22, above it, (and to the side of the operating coil ofthe magnet next above it).

It will be readily seen that the arrangement described permits a verymarked economy of space in connection with the height of a switchboardand permits of a more economical fabrication of the parts of the relayas groups. For example, the spring contacts and mounting plate may befabricated as one assembly, with the armature and operating lever asanother, and the operating magnet itself as a third.

The heel iron is greatly simplified over those heretofore commonly used.The armature and operating lever are also simplified. Special springcontacts are eliminated and simple bumper pins 58 of insulating materialare arranged to extend the movement of the operating lever to all thelever contact springs in the stacks.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described,variations within the true spirit and scope of the same are to bedetermined by the appended claims,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

We claim:

1. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in arow, each relay including a bar extending transversely of the row ofrelays, a plurality of sets of contact springs mounted transversely ofthe row of relays in substantial alignment on said bar and anelectromagnet and associated means for actuating said sets of contactsprings, the sets of contact springs oi each relay being arranged in twogroups separated to provide a space therebetween and means for mountingsaid relays with the electromagnet of each preceding relay positioned inthe space between the groups of contact springs of the next succeedingrelay.

2. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in arow, each relay including a plurality of sets of contact springs mountedin substantial alignment transversely of the row of relays and anelectromagnet and associated means for actuating said sets of contactsprings, the sets of contact springs of each relay being arranged in twogroups separated to provide a space therebetween substantially centrallyof the relay, and means for mounting said relays with the electromagnetof each preceding relay positioned in the space between the groups ofcontact springs of the next succeeding relay.

3. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in arow; each relay including a bar extending transversely of the row ofrelays, a plurality of sets of contact springs mounted on said bar insubstantial alignment and an electromagnet and associated means foractuating said sets of contact springs; the sets of contact springs ofeach relay being arranged in two groups separated to provide a spacetherebetween substantially centrally of the relay, and means formounting said relays with the electromagnet of each preceding relaypositioned in the space between the groups of contact springs of thenext succeeding relay.

4. A telephone relay bank comprising a plurality of relays arranged in arow; each relay including a bar extending transversely of the row ofrelays, a plurality of sets of contact springs mounted in substantialalignment on one side of said bar and an electromagnet and associatedmeans for actuating said sets of contact springs mounted on the otherside of said bar; the sets of contact springs of each relay beingarranged in two groups separated to provide a space therebetween and.means for mounting said relays with the electromagnet of each precedingrelay positioned in the space between the groups of contact springs ofthe next succeeding relay.

NORMAN H. SAUNDERS. NILS A. JUDSEN.

